Sunday, March 29, 2009

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 20 ...

Tuesday, March 31 is the last day to earn FREE Stampin' Up! products with your Stampin' Up! purchases through Sale-A-Bration (earn free stamp sets, designer paper, and/or ribbon with each $50 purchase ... no limit!). I'll be placing one more order before 3/31. Contact me to have your order included!nrileycm@cox.net

I'm not a bird fan but this little bird image is just the cutest! I did some masking to make his legs so short. His eye is simply a 1/4" Circle Punched Chocolate Chip cardstock, and his Tangerine Tango wing is cut out and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.RECIPEStamps: Good FriendPaper: Hawaii Papaya DP (retired), Flock Together DP, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CSInk: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tangerine TangoEmbellishments: Chocolate Chip Corduroy Brad, Chocolate Chip 5/16" Jumbo BradsTools: 1/4" Circle PunchSupplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Boy, have I been struggling with my mojo this week! You might have thought that I had forgotten how to stamp! Last night, it all came back to me when I went to work with this week's Sketch Challenge #221 on SCS. My daughter Allie graduates from high school in May so I need to get busy with graduation cards for her friends. This is the first graduation card of many.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

This cute pocket card and awesome chenille rick rack came in the mail the other day from my friend Sandy Braddock, doublesmom on SCS. Sandy recently moved out of state, was one of my best Stampin' Up! customers and class participants ... and of course, good friend. My Stampin' Up! business misses her terribly, and I think she misses my classes terribly! Can you believe this beautiful chenille rick rack? I guess she got it at a quilting store! Hmmm ... I wonder what I'll create with it?!The other day I was tagged by Kendra at The Dot Ate My Stamps. The rules are as follows ...•Open your photo folder on your computer•Open the 6th folder of photos•Select the 6th picture•Post the picture on your blog with a description•Invite six friends to join the challenge•Link your six friends to your blog postMy sixth photo in my sixth folder was this one taken about a year ago of my daughter Allie and her friend Kellie. Kellie, her mom Robbie, and I had lunch at the Italian restaurant that Allie works at. Allie was our Server that day.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week Nineteen ...

I was excited to see that Dawn McVey started hosting a color challenge on her blog, My Favorite Things. She always has the best color combos in her designs, and if Week 1 is a taste of things to come, her color challenges are sure to be very popular among the stamping community! I used Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To TrywithDawn's Week 1 Raspberry Suite Color ChallengeofChocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion, and Whisper White. I tried to make my design as close to the sketch as possible but struggled with the top panel/star, and ended up tying the ribbon across the width of the card. RECIPEStamps: Garden GreetingsPaper: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White CSInk: Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, and So SaffronEmbellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/16" Jumbo Brads, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain RibbonTools: 1/2" and 3/4" Circle Punches

Monday, March 16, 2009

Tonight was my first stamp class in a very long time. With adjusting to full time employment and recovering from foot surgery behind me, I thought my Spring Break would be a great opportunity for a comeback class! Some of my most loyal SU customers and friends were here, along with some new local friends who frequent iSTAMP!

Here are the five projects we made, all of which are CASEd with minor changes.

My neighbor Tammy has been away from work on sick leave with a sprained foot. She called last night to ask if she could bring goodies to class ... she was "bored" and looking for something to do. She didn't have to ask me twice! These photos show only a portion of the fabulous food she brought to stamp class! Isn't she awesome?!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week Eighteen ...

It's been almost a week since I've posted ... or stamped for that matter. Between the day job, out-of-town company, and preparing for an upcoming class there's been no time for stamping or blogging.I spent most of yesterday cutting paper for Monday's stamp class, and got to stamp a little last night. Boy, was I rusty! It took me forever to get this design to come together!

I used Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try, Thoughts and Prayers and Bella Birds DP. I wonder why they named this designer paper Bella Birds, anyway?! There's not a single bird in the design!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Here's a sneak peek at the five projects I have planned for my upcoming Stamp Class on Monday, March 16 at 6:30. If you are in or around the Phoenix, Arizona metro area and would like to attend, please contact me for details at nrileycm@cox.net. Space is limited.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week Seventeen ...

Friday, March 6, 2009

It's been a busy week - the reason for my lack of original artwork. Next week looks to be much of the same with out-of-town guests and stamp class preparation, but hope to get a little creative time this weekend.

I do however find it necessary to provide a gentle reminder to my readers. Ya' all know how much I love to stamp, and how much I love to share my creations with you. I am extremely flattered when my original artwork is CASEd (Copy And Steal/Share Everything). Lately, I've been coming across my artwork CASEd on other blogs without any mention of the original artist.

Please respect my time and creativity by clarifying that it is a CASE, mentioning my name along with a link to my blog. I encourage you to CASE my creations and post them on your blog or SCS (for personal use). All I ask is that you mention me as the original artist, along with a link to iSTAMP - it is proper stamping/blogging etiquette.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 16 ...

I've had this design in my head since I first saw Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday Sketch #75 earlier this week. This is my kind of sketch with all the fun and interesting layers, the row of brads, and scallop border! I couldn't WAIT to create it! Now that it's completed, I'm quite pleased (you don't hear me say THAT very often, do you?!). I combined the stamp set, A Good Egg with the new Tea Party Designer Paper.RECIPEStamps: A Good EggPaper: Tea Party DP, Whisper White, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, and Almost Amethyst CSInk: Basic BlackEmbellishments: Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, So Saffron BradsTools: Scallop Border Punch, 1/4", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Priceless Classy Brass Template, Paper Piercer and Mat PackSupplies: Stampin' DimensionalsCard Details: * 1/4" Certainly Celery CS circles back each So Saffron Brad* The paper piercing on the Certainly Celery 1 1/4" Circle behind the sentiment was created with the Priceless Classy Brass Template.